How to sign up and join our community of 450+ active students in the DMV:

1. Take a discounted intro lesson (or just grab a slot!)
45-minute intro lesson: $65
30-minute intro lesson: $45

2. Pick a time slot & enroll
Learning takes more than one session. Establishing a routine of lessons and practice with a high quality, inspiring coach is the best way to achieve growth and enjoy the ride.

All students get 1 free hour per day in our solo practice rooms!

Our goal is to help people ​live more balanced, fulfilling lives.
​Join our community and do what you've always wanted to do!
Fill out the form on the right >>
We'll call you to match you with a teacher and a time slot. 

Miles Ryan 
Founder & Lessons Director

Miles founded 7DC in 2011 teaching drums in his living room. He loves progressive rock, and Phish, has a black lab named Remo, and is originally from Boston.

Massimo Zaru-Roque
Lessons Manager

Massimo plays bass and has a music degree from George Mason. He performs with Cinema Hearts, and also teaches here on Fridays.

Fill out the form above to get started!

The Original "7 Drum Lessons"

1. Establish awareness
2. Identify patterns
3. Start slow and count out loud
4. Isolate and loop the hard part
5. Repeat until effortless
6. Explore variations
7. Make it groove

This approach works. By addressing each of these concepts while learning anything, 7DC students improve dramatically, build a strong foundation, and have more fun doing it.

 You can learn much more material in much less time if you understand and address the psychological process of learning, because you can tailor the order and pace of the material presented, and practice effectively.

 1. Establish awareness -- You'll always develop quicker if you can (a) coach yourself, and (b) anchor new concepts to areas you're already familiar with. 
2. Identify patterns -- Any beat or song can be deconstructed and/or simplified to the point where anyone could play it. This is the key that unlocks coordination.
3. Start slowly and count out loud -- Verbally speaking what you're trying to play accelerates learning. Play slowly so you get it right the first time!
4. Isolate and loop the hard part -- Repeating the beat, or even a portion of the beat, until you can play the coordination challenge correctly without thinking about it or looking at the music. 
5. Repeat until effortless -- Repetition is how you build muscle memory, which allows you to play things easily. Without it, it's still new and you'll forget!
6. Explore variations -- Try altering the phrase slightly or changing the key, or something wild but related. This makes the actual exercise seem easy, taps into your creativity, and transforms you into a great musician.
7. Make it groove -- Different than playing the exercise correctly! Striving to "feel" the phrase, enjoy playing it, and find the same excitement you get from listening to awesome music